Snow discusses in Jordan fighting terrorism sponsoring; Chalabi asks Jordan for frozen debts and assets

Jordanian- American talks were held yesterday on "fighting terrorism sponsoring" while the Jordanian government of Ali Abul Ragheb dismissed the decision of the Central Bank in Jordan to freeze assets relating to the Hamas movement.

The American embassy in Amman said that the US treasury secretary John Snow discussed with his Jordanian counterpart Michael Marto during his short visit to the kingdom in the course of his regional tour "the regional and international economic conditions including the strong economic performance achieved by Jordan especially amid regional developments and continued commitment to fighting terrorism sponsoring."

The Jordanian Central Bank asked Jordanian banks to "freeze any dealing" with 6 political figures of the Hamas movement and five Palestinian societies abroad but it abrogated the decision.

Snow commended the performance of the Jordanian economy, considering that it has become an example for economic and financial policies in the region. Talks also dealt with the economic situation in Iraq. Snow said that Jordan promised complete cooperation in following up assets of former Iraqi government and to freezing them. Snow discussed with Marto the efforts aimed at guaranteeing the use of these Iraqi assets in rebuilding Iraq and not to allow smuggling them outside the country.

This however, coincided with the event that the Interim Iraqi government is preparing to conduct negotiations with the Jordanian government to discuss the issue of the frozen Iraqi assets and debts between the two states.